Bus and shuttles to Disney do not have seatbelts

[Becky2005]

I'm not sure what those same guest do if they kids take a school bus since most school buses don't have seat belts.

I haven't read through this entire thing but I agree with this statement. My DD takes a bus to & from school and will do so until she graduates. I know they don't have seatbelts on the bus. I know there have been fatalities too with school busses and seatbelts were never installed the next day. I know they have researched this for a long time (I remember them talking about it when I was in school and that was 25 years ago!). They have changed the design to make them safer but still no seatbelts on the larger busses.

Of course, even if you don't take ME, you have the problem of taking on-site busses that don't have seatbelts either but we took our chances. However, we solved the ME problem by driving there from our home instead -- only took us roughly 20 hours.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You don't even have to sign up to get on the DME.

Yes, you do. The private transportation providers in Orlando put up such a stink that the airport made AND ENFORCES rules governing DME, including the absolute requirement that only people with reservations can use the service.

If you didn't sign up just go down to the Welcome center and they take care of you.

No, they won't. See above.
It takes a little while for the Disney people to get you ready and than depending on the load there are the stops at the different hotels. So it is not the fastest way out there.

It takes a little while for the Disney people to get you ready and than depending on the load there are the stops at the different hotels. So it is not the fastest way out there.

In my case, fifty-nine minutes from when I stepped off the jetway into the terminal until I stepped off the bus at my Disney resort - and that included a 'facilities' before boarding the tram to the main terminal.

Why pay $8.00 to park the car in a theme park lot when bus transportation is good at Disney.

Since the issue here is primarily DME - a service available ONLY to Guests of Disney resorts, Guests of the same resorts who choose to rent a car pay NOTHING to park at ANY park (and it's $9; try to keep up, please).

I don't positively know what you pay for a rental car per week, but I assume it is something like $250 to $350.

A bit of research would show that rental car prices are extremely competitive in relation to taxi/town car rates - depending, of course, on the vehicle class chosen. One can get a rental car from Priceline for as little as $10 or $12 a day.

Many of these drivers go out of their way to take care of you. You are met at baggage claim, helped with your luggage and loaded into absolutely clean vehicles. You leave the airport immediately after you get your luggage.

I'm glad you said "many", and not "all" drivers - because I don't think a driver spending 95% of the drive on various cell phone conversations (my last Orlando-area town car experience) can be considered going out of his way to take care of me. And unless things have changed, you do NOT leave the airport immediately after getting your luggage. My experience has always been that once we get out to the curb, the driver has to go GET the car. With DME on the other hand, there is NO waiting for luggage (unless one chooses to not use the complete service), cutting a good twenty minutes off the passengers' wait time.

Some companies offer intermediate stops at grocery stores, liquor stores or whatever else comes to mind. ... These are usually the best vehicles on the line as individual drivers keep them up.

Both true. DME does not offer the individualized service of a supermarket stop - although grocery delivery is available from several companies and costs MUCH less than a town car or taxi ride from and to the airport - and my understanding is that many, if not most, drivers own their own vehicles. It only makes sense that they take care of and pride in their vehicles.

But you still didn't answer LewisC's question: If Disney buses are so dangerous, what mode of transportation to town car and limo drivers recommend to THEIR passengers to get around and among the Disney parks?

 

[Bo'sMom]

I appreciate the help

As I read about "safe" limos I always remember reading those stories about the high school kids a few years ago who got a limo to the prom and the driver was DRUNK!!!

I don't know about Orlando, but in MOST places there are NO special tests etc to drive a "town car" . So the assumption of saftey is limited. You have no way of knowing the driver qualification and or the vehicle maintenance. I have to figure that as BIG companies with DEEP pockets Mears and Disney are going to keep those brakes in good condition for example...

<<


Unfortunately we had two incidents at a recent prom in my area 1) when the limo driver returned to the prom to pick up his guests, he was bombed. Chaperones interceded and he was turned over to the police. 2) While waiting for prom attendees, a driver of a limo was arrested on an outstanding warrant. These two incidents were at the same prom.

 

[mytwotinks]

Somewhere way back Edd made a comment that the bus driver said "the passengers in the front would go through the front windshield." I don't know whether or not buses should have seat belts, but they do have other safety features. The seats are high to keep people from flying forward. I think that even in front of the front row there is a divider to keep the passengers from leaving their seats.

I do feel bad about the Towncar drivers losing their business. I am sure that many of them are feeling hard times. I suspect that in the future at some point Disney will start charging for DME and at that point there will be more opportunity for the Towncar services to win back some business.

As far as whether or not the service is free. I don't really see an argument that it is not because you don't have to buy a package to get the service free. I can see saying that about the dining because to get it you have to give up other discounts but the DME I can get free no matter what I pay for my room.

 

[CarolA]

I recently read Disney's last annual report.

Per person spending at WDW was up from last year. I would dare say that PART of that comes from having the ME option. It "traps' you on site where you spend at Disney as opposed to at Walmart or at Universal. For that reason Disney may be willing to "eat" the price of transport knowing they will get it back when you go to the store in your resort to buy cokes....(and then some)

 

[rhiannonwales]

I'm sorry i just couldnt resist digging on this one.

Mr.Korgan (edd) runs this website:
taxi-mco

On this page, he puts himself under the "link" to Mears - either he is moonlighting as an independent while under the employ of Mears, or hes is playing a name game.He also lists his friend under Tiffany towncar.I dont imagine that TTC (if he is employed by them) would appriciate his independent advertising.
Troll, anyone?
It would seem that that Mr Korgan is regestered to pick up passengers at MCO, but his seemingly shady web page full of rants about the "evil empire" of Disney and his deceptive advertising makes me think twice.

So, "Edd" what do you have to say now?????????

It's amazing what 10 minutes with google can do.

 

[Pkdcoastrs]

I'm sorry i just couldnt resist digging on this one.

Mr.Korgan (edd) runs this website:
taxi-mco

On this page, he puts himself under the "link" to Mears - either he is moonlighting as an independent while under the employ of Mears, or hes is playing a name game.He also lists his friend under Tiffany towncar.I dont imagine that TTC (if he is employed by them) would appriciate his independent advertising.
Troll, anyone?
It would seem that that Mr Korgan is regestered to pick up passengers at MCO, but his seemingly shady web page full of rants about the "evil empire" of Disney and his deceptive advertising makes me think twice.

So, "Edd" what do you have to say now?????????

It's amazing what 10 minutes with google can do.

Wow, how did you find that site LOL. It stinks that the OP had to try and hide this to put himself out there as just a CONCERNED Disney fan. Oh well!

 

[Edd]

Thank you for the link! Wasn't trying to hide that fact, but didn't feel like it belonged on the boards. I was trying to use the boards from a personal viewpoint. I do drive many passengers to Disney and guess what, everyone is required to use the seat belts that are available, including myself. The passengers return to me year after year. People have talked about the service I give, on the Disney boards many times. Just thought I would pose the question for everyone to look at. Yes, I ride the busses when I stay at the resorts, no seatbelts and even though my grandson is 7 years old I watch over him close. There is no getting away from the fact that "seatbelts" save lives. Mine as a fact, so I am bigtime a seatbelt fan.
So as one big fan of the Disney parks (as I mentioned before I was there the first Sunday it opened in October, 1971, not to many people around that can say that, and have been in the parks more than 400 times and will be a first time cruiser shortly, my grandson and I) I have my opinion, based on real experience, and you have yours.

 

[Lewisc]

Your original post warned people about the dangers of riding DME buses without seat belts.

You still haven't answered my question, which other posters have also asked

DO YOU ADVISE YOUR PASSENGERS THAT DISNEY BUSES DON'T HAVE SEAT BELTS AND FOR SAFETY THEY SHOULD RENT A CAR TO GO FROM THE RESORT TO THE THEME PARKS.

You really should consider stopping your posts, posters here aren't letting you get away with posting lies and half truths.

Thank you for the link! Wasn't trying to hide that fact, but didn't feel like it belonged on the boards. I was trying to use the boards from a personal viewpoint. I do drive many passengers to Disney and guess what, everyone is required to use the seat belts that are available, including myself. The passengers return to me year after year. People have talked about the service I give, on the Disney boards many times. Just thought I would pose the question for everyone to look at. Yes, I ride the busses when I stay at the resorts, no seatbelts and even though my grandson is 7 years old I watch over him close. There is no getting away from the fact that "seatbelts" save lives. Mine as a fact, so I am bigtime a seatbelt fan.
So as one big fan of the Disney parks (as I mentioned before I was there the first Sunday it opened in October, 1971, not to many people around that can say that, and have been in the parks more than 400 times and will be a first time cruiser shortly, my grandson and I) I have my opinion, based on real experience, and you have yours.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Edd:

If this is your best pitch to get people to use a towncar, it's not a very good one.

This thread has been covered in these message boards before. I couldn't locate it with search just now but I kinda wonder if you didn't start the previous one too. Anyway, buses don't have restraints because in most accidents the seatbelts would signficantly add to the evacuation time after an accident.

In all but the most severe accidents, buses will 'win' over say.. a towncar. Why? Buses are designed with a higher center of gravity and crumple zones UNDERNEATH the primary passenger compartment. This is not true of shuttle buses or towncars.

If you were to ask me to be in a towncar while it collided with a bus or a bus while it collided with a towncar, I'll take the bus without the seatbelt. Any day of the week thank you.

If you want to convert people to using a towncar service, you should totally emphasize the 'service' portion of your business. Treat each customer like gold. Service with a smile plus. Offer to carry their bags at the grocery stop instead of standing by the car smoking a cigarette and looking annoyed.

Edd - honestly - how many fatalities have there been on Disney's Magical Express since it launched. For any reason? One? Has there even been one? How about Disney's inter-park bus service. How many fatalities on that over the many years it's been offered? I can't recall ANY.

To argue that the buses are more dangerous than the rides in the parks is ridiculous. There actually HAVE been fatalities at the parks on the various rides. Two on Mission Space in the last year and a bit.

The parks are far more dangerous than those stupid seatbelt-less buses. On average 11 kids a YEAR die in school bus crashes. Contrast that with 41,000 in motor vehicle accidents... a few of which die when hitting a bus. On a per-vehicle-mile basis the school bus fatality rate is one-seventh that of other passenger vehicles.

Really it's important for you to know that most of all, don't try to 'scare' your future customers on internet message boards with non-existent facts. It makes you look desparate and frankly, a little crazy.

And I don't want to drive with a crazy person.

Lastly...

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration argues that seat belts aren't the most effective way to protect passengers on school buses. Instead the big yellow beasts employ something called "compartmentalization."

Think back to your days on the good ol' school bus. Remember how those rigid green seats were wedged closer together than on even the cheapest no-frills airline? That's compartmentalization in action. Sitting in "strong, closely-spaced seats that have energy-absorbing high seat backs," passengers are effectively protected from crashes. Of course, the method can't prevent all injuries, but the NHTSA argues it's the best possible solution. Several studies have shown seat belts would provide "little, if any, added protection."

John

PS> If you can point to a recognized news organization's coverage of a death ON a Disney Magical Express bus that could have been prevented by a seatbelt, I'll apologize profusely. I don't think you can.

 

[rhiannonwales]

Edd,
You also havent explained how you get away with advertising your name and service under a link to mears transportation, or how you justify your buddy appearing under a link to Tiffany Towncar.

I dont use DME, because i am one of the types of people previously mentioned: When im on vacation, i prefer a full luxury experience.I always use a towncar or limo.Howver, some of the posters here have made a point: You dont try hard enough (you as an industry) to keep people like me happy, and you dont market yourself to my type of clientele.Scan these boards for a while.How many stories ae there of once good companies who are not showing up, being surly, talking on phones while driving, and driving in a poor manner?
Fact is this: you cannot be a person who makes a living off of drving Disney guests to and fro while you simultaneously complain, moan and cry about them.It's called biting the hand that feeds you.Does DME hurt buisness? Of course.But life isnt always about fairness.Im sure that there are hotel owners who are upset about DME drawing people back onsite.However, there is no whine fest going on about that now is there?No.And why? Because offsite hotel owners are working harder (mostly anyway) to bring in new people and keep their regulars.Lower rates, Priceline, remodleing and improved services all come to mind.

If Gola got off their butts and thought about it ther is a few things that could be done to improve things for the limo/car services.

1.Pool money together to take out advertising in travel publications like AAA, advertising your services and the perks of using a car service that DME cant offer.Use the GOLA website as a portal for people coming from that advertising to see the companies available and link to them.

2. Make co operative agreements with major Disney internet sites, like many have already done.If you go about it the right way, you wouldnt have to sneak around the boards disney bashing to make your point across.And you might gain some customers from it.

But its easier to whine and moan and just make yourself look like a lunatic, isnt it?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Why pay $8.00 to park the car in a theme park lot when bus transportation is good at Disney.

But hasn't this whole thread been about you telling us how dangerous busses are because there are no seatbelts? But now we should take a limo service instead of renting a car because the bus transportation at Disney is so good?

Yeah, sure. Tour buses with high, well-padded seats are deathtraps while the equivalent of local transit buses with large front windows and on which passengers are allowed - nay, encouraged - to stand and cram in as many bodies as physically possble are entirely safe. You didn't know that?

I would compliment the bus industry on the move to passenger safety. That goes for Disney or Mears who provide the transportation to the parks. Commercial busses are the only hold outs on installing better safety equipment aboard public transportation.

Really? This statistic is supported - where? Because NO bus, subway, monrail, tram, commuter rail train or Amtrak train I've ever been on has EVER had seatbelts. And, really, those are ALL public transportation.

 

[CarolA]

Oh I was right.. A shill!

And can we now consider Edd a troll and have him banned for advertising???

(And to the person who wondered if Tiffany would approve of this... probably. The towncar companies are not at all beneath this type of trolling. Do a search on Magical Express and websites "trashing" it appear.. wonder who is keeping them up??? An example http://www.magicalexpress.info/ )

All Edd has suceeded in doing is reinforcing my belief that "if the only way you can get customers is by lying" then you are doing something WRONG! SERVICE EDD not WORDS and trash talking.....

 

[Allison]

It is interesting that if you look at the link provided earlier there is also a rant about how bad rental cars are. Actually, the term used on the site is "redicoulous" (the site spelling, not mine). One of the arguments they use about rental cars is how convenient Disney bus transportation is to get guests right to the entrance of the park.

So, the buses must be safe enough when Edd doesn't have a way to make a buck off of it.

 

[CarolA]

So, the buses must be safe enough when Edd doesn't have a way to make a buck off of it.

 

[Edd]

See you guys on the Disney Cruise lines or maybe in the parks sometime this year.

Remember seat belts save lives. See that SUV crash, in Michigan, on national TV!!

P.S. I don't advise my passengers anything. They have picked me over other forms of transportation for some very good reasons.

 

[Boncho]

All I can say is - Edd is on my ignore list. On our trip last year we used a Town Car service - almost had two accidents getting to the resort ---this year we used Disney transportation the whole time and there was NOT ONE incident like we had with the Town Car service.

 

[Lewisc]

They don't pick you for honesty, integrity or an ability to provide accurate information. Disney doesn't charge resort guests for theme park parking and you didn't get the price correct for non-resort guests.

Your first posted in this thread

Are you putting your children and yourself at risk by riding transportation that does not provide seat belts for your safety.

you post here attacking DME but allow your customers to be put at risk.

I won't be putting you on my ignore list. I won't let your misinformation to go un-rebutted.

See you guys on the Disney Cruise lines or maybe in the parks sometime this year.

Remember seat belts save lives. See that SUV crash, in Michigan, on national TV!!

P.S. I don't advise my passengers anything. They have picked me over other forms of transportation for some very good reasons.

 

[grimley1968]

Remember seat belts save lives. See that SUV crash, in Michigan, on national TV!!

Seatbelts save lives in SUVs and smaller vehicles? Really? Well, knock me over with a feather! I'm sure glad there's been some reason I've been wearing them for my entire driving life and hassle my family to do it and won't start the car without it. I thought I was just doing it because it looks cool.

Edd, your thread is supposed to be about Disney buses not having seatbelts, right? We're not talking about SUVs, cars, minivans, bikes, go carts, personal jetpacks, or anything else. We're talking about BUSES. They are the only vehicles out there that do not routinely provide seatbelts for its occupants. As I and others have pointed out, buses really should NOT provide seatbelts, as they are a hindrance to escaping the bus should buses catch on fire, which is by far the biggest worry buses have. As others have also pointed out, buses are specifically engineered to withstand crashes that other vehicles cannot.

I find this thread to be unbelievably disingenuous, on Edd's part. It would be fine if he had simply posted a thread that said something like "DME is hurting taxi providers." or "Do you think DME is unfairly using Disney's position within Orlando to grab all the taxi business?" Threads that started that way would have at least been an honest way to start. Instead, Edd has posted a thread which uses bogus apples-to-oranges comparisons between SUVs and buses to complain about DME not having seatbelts on its buses, when hardly anyone puts seat belts on buses, for safety reasons. It's all a smokescreen to shill for limo drivers.

I'd be fine if he had focused on limo drivers' service and friendly attitudes, but instead he had to make unsubstantiated claims of DME being unsafe to make his non-points.

Sorry, Edd, but I'm embarassed for you and I think you should be ashamed by the fear-mongering you have tried (unsuccessfully) to engage in for your own profit.

I always, always try to remain respectful of others, even the people on a somewhat anonymous internet forum like this, but the extreme disrespect you have shown to other DISers and their intelligence in this thread is insulting.

 

[CleveRocks]

Well, Edd, I am very disappointed that you couldn't "man up" and answer lewisc's simple question that several of us posed to you numerous times, about why you think DME is so dangerous but Disney Transport is so safe. A person of your apparently questionable integrity is not someone I could trust with the lives of my family.

I am VERY flattered, however, that you seem to have taken MY ADVICE and changed your tune on the Team Rodent website. I see you posted this, which suspiciously sounds like the advice I've tried to give you several times:

Well, it is apparent that Disney had its way at Orlando International Airport. Transportation in Orlando has now got to turn itself around and market itself better than the Disney/Mears busses.
The private transportation that is available through the World Wide Webb offers many more advantages than transportation by bus to the Disney Resorts. Private transportation must realize that it will not get the passenger who is spending their last few dollars to get their kids to the Wonderful World of Disney. There remains the passengers that want to travel to the Magic Kingdom in the styles they are accustomed to. That is in a private vehicle, with their own kids, and no screaming, hollering or loud noisy buzz. Private transportation will be able to offer these people the chance make intermediate stops, for groceries, liquor, beer or whatever.
The private companies will be able to offer Disney to the visitor approximately one hour after landing Orlando. Pick up times can be set up much tighter, which means a few extra hours in the resorts. The best factor, of all, is that the family will be able to ride together with no other families up in there face while they are riding in the private vehicles.
Orlando transportation drivers should begin to realize this is a quality that even the great Disney cannot beat with their Disney (Mears transportation) Magical (certainly not magic with completely filled busses) Express (one to three hours to the resort depending on the crowds).

You're welcome, Edd.